Provided is a refrigeration apparatus capable of appropriately supplying oil separated by oil separators to compressors according to the situation. The refrigeration apparatus includes N refrigeration units each including a compressor, an oil separator, an oil return pipe, and a heat dissipation heat exchanger; N pressure reducing valves each connected to the heat dissipation heat exchanger of a corresponding one of the N refrigeration units; and an oil return control mechanism that controls a return destination of the oil separated by the oil separators of the N refrigeration units. The oil return control mechanism includes an oil supply pipe that connects the oil return pipes of the N refrigeration units to each other, and a flow control mechanism, which controls a flowing condition of oil in the oil supply pipe, disposed in the oil supply pipe.

Provided is a refrigeration apparatus capable of appropriately supplying oil separated by oil separators to compressors according to the situation. The refrigeration apparatus includes refrigeration units each including a compressor, an oil separator, an oil return pipe, and a heat dissipation heat exchanger; a pressure reducing valve connected to the heat dissipation heat exchangers; and an oil return control mechanism controlling a return destination of the oil separated by the oil separators. The oil return control mechanism includes an oil supply pipe connecting the oil return pipes; a flow control mechanism, controlling a flowing condition of oil in the oil supply pipe, disposed in the oil supply pipe; and an ejection control mechanism, controlling an ejection condition of oil ejected from the oil separator, disposed in each oil return pipe at a position closer to the oil separator than a connection position with the oil supply pipe is.

An air-conditioning system includes: an air conditioner including an outdoor unit and a plurality of indoor units each provided in a corresponding one of a plurality of indoor spaces and each including a first control unit; and a second control unit capable of communicating with the first control units. Each first control unit is capable of communicating with a countermeasure device if the countermeasure device is installed in correspondence with one of the indoor spaces where the first control unit is located. The second control unit has a first function of prohibiting operation of the air conditioner if a first condition where communication between the first control unit and the countermeasure device is not established in any of the indoor units is satisfied.

A multi-air conditioner for heating/cooling operations, including at least one indoor unit for heating/cooling operations including an indoor heat exchanger; and an outdoor unit for heating/cooling operations including a compressor, an outdoor heat exchanger, and a switching unit configured to be disposed in a discharge side of the compressor to switch a flow of refrigerant. The outdoor unit includes a receiver that selectively stores refrigerant or oil according to a cooling or heating operation mode and provides the stored refrigerant or oil to the compressor. Accordingly, in the accumulator of the multi-air conditioner using the receiver, the receiver which is not used in the heating mode may be converted and used for oil storage, thereby preventing oil burnout without adding structure.

A cooling system comprising a cooling circuit connecting a heat exchanger and a heat load. The cooling system comprising a first velocity fuse upstream of the heat exchanger or heat load and a second velocity fuse or valve downstream of the heat exchanger or heat load. The heat exchanger or heat load is dynamically isolated from the rest of the cooling system by the first velocity fuse or the second velocity fuse in response to a velocity of a flow of cooling fluid exceeding a respective velocity setting of the first velocity fuse or the second velocity fuse.

A system includes a flash tank, a first load, a second load, a first compressor, a second compressor, a first valve, and a second valve. The flash tank stores a refrigerant. The first and second loads use the refrigerant to cool first and second spaces. The first compressor compresses the refrigerant from the first load during a first mode of operation and a flash gas from the flash tank during a second mode of operation. The second compressor compresses a mixture of the refrigerant from the first and second loads during the first mode of operation. The first valve directs the flash gas from the flash tank to the first compressor during the second mode of operation. The second valve directs the compressed flash gas from the first compressor to the first load during the second mode of operation to defrost the first load.

A system for measuring oil circulation ratio in a vapor-compression refrigeration system (VCRS) is provided. The system may include an oil separator configured to receive the refrigerant and oil flow from the low-pressure line of the VCRS and output a oil flow and a refrigerant flow. The system may further include an oil collector configured to receive the separated oil flow provided by the oil separator. A valve may control an oil flow from the oil collector to the low-pressure line. A level sensor may measure oil level in the oil collector. The system may close, in response to the oil being at or less than a first level, the valve to collect oil in the oil collector. The system may open, in response to the oil being at or greater than a second level, the valve to release oil from the oil collector to the low-pressure line.

An air-conditioning apparatus includes a refrigeration circuit, a first shut-off device provided at a pipe connecting a heat-source-side heat exchanger and an expansion device, a refrigerant leak detection device, and a controller. The controller controls a flow switching device to switch a connection state between a first connection state in which a discharge side of a compressor is connected to the heat-source-side heat exchanger, and a second connection state in which a suction side of the compressor is connected to the heat-source-side heat exchanger via an accumulator. When a refrigerant leak is detected, the controller performs a refrigerant retrieval operation and a refrigerant transfer operation.

An air conditioner provided which has: a main refrigerant circuit including a compressor, a heat source side heat exchanger, a first expansion valve, and a utilization side heat exchanger and configured such that refrigerant flows in the main refrigerant circuit; a sub refrigerant circuit including a cooling member configured such that refrigerant branched from the main refrigerant circuit flows in the cooling member and configured such that refrigerant branched from the main refrigerant circuit flows in the sub refrigerant circuit; and a heat generator to be cooled by the cooling member, wherein a pipe in which part of refrigerant discharged from the compressor flows is connected to the cooling member of the sub refrigerant circuit.

A multi-air conditioner for heating and cooling may include at least one indoor unit for both cooling and heating including an indoor heat exchanger; an outdoor unit for both cooling and heating including a compressor, a plurality of outdoor heat exchangers, and a switching unit disposed on a discharge side of the compressor to switch a flow of refrigerant; and a distributor disposed between the outdoor unit and the at least one indoor unit, that distributes the refrigerant. The plurality of outdoor heat exchangers in the outdoor unit may include a first heat exchanger, a first end of which is connected to the switching unit, and a second end of which is connected to the distributor; a second heat exchanger disposed under the first heat exchanger, a first end of which is configured to be coupled to or decoupled from the second end of the first heat exchanger, and a second end of which is connected to the distributor; and a third heat exchanger disposed under the second heat exchanger, a first end of which is connected to the discharge side of the compressor, and a second end of which is connected to the indoor unit.